SEARCY, Ark. – After taking game one of the series yesterday, the East Central University baseball team dropped the twin bill against Harding 7-4 and 13-0 for their final GAC road series of the season.
 
The Tigers struck first with a run in the top of the second inning after an RBI single from Ian Mason scored Nick Blankenship for the 1-0 lead.
 
However, Harding answered back immediately in the home half with a three-run home run to claim a 3-1 lead.
 
ECU responded with another run in the next frame after a delayed steal from Christian Whitaker allowed Cooper Hunt to run home, but just as the Tigers inched closer to the Bisons, Harding found a way to pull away.
 
Harding tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third inning for a 5-2 advantage.
 
After two scoreless innings, the Tigers picked up the momentum, driving in two runs on four hits. Blankenship's RBI single to center drove in Whitaker before Mason's second RBI of the day plated Blankenship to cut the deficit to within one, trailing 5-4.
 
The seventh inning proved to be the deciding factor, though, as Harding added two more runs to the board while the Tigers could not capitalize on any more scoring opportunities. The Bisons would win the first game of the day 7-4.
 
Drake Seisemore took the loss, going 6.0 innings while giving up five runs on three hits and striking out four. Bryce Crawford came in relief, throwing 2.0 innings and allowing two runs on three hits.
 
Tanner Collins went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Nick Blankenship and Ian Mason went 2-for-4.
 
Game two was all Harding as they carried the momentum from the game one win looking to sweep the day.
 
The Bisons took advantage of a few errors to score 13 runs between the second and fifth inning to break open the game.
 
The game was silent after that as the Tigers struggled to find their way on the board and Harding would take the series with a 13-0 win on Sunday.
 
Ian Mason took the loss, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing eight runs on five hits. Jagger Green, Price Daube, Cayden Blanton, and Clayton Solomon were other Tigers to see action on the mound.
 
Dawrlyn Amancio and Gage Boatman went 2-for-2 at the plate, while Cooper Hunt, Duncan Key, and Nolan Herchock each picked up a hit.
 
The East Central University baseball team will return to Ada for the final GAC home series of the 2023 season. The Tigers will take on rivals Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Friday, April 28, and will then honor their seniors on Senior Day Saturday, April 29, before the doubleheader.